main object of the photograph should probably be keptout of the picture; for instance, a photograph showing aperson standing at some distance in front of a buildingmay leave the observer wondering whether the personor the building is the primary subject. When people areincluded in a scene for comparative size of objects or

just for atmosphere, keep them from looking directly at

the camera. When people look at the camera andtherefore at the viewer of the picture, the viewer tendsto return their gaze by looking directly back into theireyes. When they are not the intended point of interest,we miss the statement and purpose of the picture. Whenpeople are subordinate elements within the picture andthey are looking in a direction other than at the camera,the viewer's attention is directed from the people to whatthey are looking at, which should be the center ofinterest; for example, when people are grouped arounda piece of machinery that is the center of interest of the

picture, have them look at the machine, rather than thecamera.

SUBJECT PLACEMENT

Sometimes good composition is obtained by placing

the center of interest in the geometrical center of thepicture; it is generally not a good idea to place it there.Too frequently it divides the picture into equal halvesand makes the picture uninteresting and difficult tobalance. By dividing the picture area into thirds, bothvertically and horizontally, and locating the center ofinterest at one of the intersections of the imaginary lines,you can usually create a feeling of balance to thecomposition (fig. 5-5).

In photographic composition there are two general

guides for determining the best location for the centerof interest. The first is the principle of thirds. The other

is dynamic symmetry. In the principle of thirds, theintersection of lines that divide the picture area into

thirds are marked by O's. These intersections are goodlocations for the center of interest in most photographs.Notice we said THE center of interest. Remember, haveonly one center of interest to a picture-keep it simple.The principle of dynamic symmetry is a similar idea. Agood location for the center of interest is found bydrawing or imagining a diagonal line from one cornerto an opposite corner. Then, draw a second lineperpendicular to the first from a third corner (fig. 5-6).The intersections of the lines are the location for thecenter of interest.

SIMPLICITY

Simplicity is the key to most good pictures. The

simpler and more direct a picture is, the clearer andstronger is the resulting statement. There are severalthings to be considered when we discuss simplicity.First, select a subject that lends itself to a simplearrangement; for example, instead of photographing an

entire area that would confuse the viewer, frame in on

some important element within the area. Second, select

different viewpoints or camera angles. Move around the

scene or object being photographed. View the scenethrough the camera viewfinder. Look at the foregroundand background. Try high and low angles as well asnormal eye-level viewpoints. Evaluate each view andangle. Only after considering all possibilities should you

take the picture. See beyond and in front of your subject.

Be sure there is nothing in the background to distract theviewer's attention from the main point of the picture.

Likewise, check to see there is nothing objectional in theforeground to block the entrance of the human eye intothe picture.